About

Benefit Period is an independent information site about personal insurance in Australia: life (death) cover, total and permanent disability (TPD), trauma and income protection, whether held through a super fund or as a retail policy.

It is for people who want to understand the cover they already have, decide how much they need and compare options before they speak to a super fund, an insurer or an adviser. The guides explain how each type of cover works, what drives premiums, the superannuation opt-in rules, the 2021 income protection changes, tax on premiums and payouts, and how claims and complaints are handled under the Life Insurance Code of Practice and through AFCA.

We use worked examples with the arithmetic shown. Premiums, incomes and balances in examples are illustrative, and rules are taken from official sources such as ASIC's Moneysmart, APRA, the ATO, AFCA and federal legislation. We do not rank insurers or super funds, sell insurance or receive commissions on policies.

This site provides general information only, not personal financial, tax or legal advice. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Read the product disclosure statement and target market determination before acquiring a product, and consider licensed advice for decisions about your own cover. Private health insurance is not covered here.

How this site is made

Benefit Period is an independent information project. Guides are drafted with the help of AI writing tools and checked against official and primary sources before publication; see our Editorial Policy. We are not affiliated with any provider mentioned on the site and do not sell products or services.